Counter transfer and clearing



Aug. 29, 1939. E. M. LA BOITEAUX COUNTER TRANSFER AND CLEARING MECHANISM Filed 'Dec. 2, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 W m M 2. 3 mm l/ /z I J M p mm 3 v m I! N w W l .u 1 ll Q1, 1 m mm% 1 6 k. ON

Aug. 29, 1939. E. M. LA uOITEAUX COUNTER TRANSFER AND CLEARING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 2, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 29, 1939. E. M. LA BOITEAUX COUNTER TRANSFER AND CLEARING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 2, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Aug. 29, 1939. E. M. LA BOITEAUX COUNTER TRANSFER AND CLEARING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 2, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 3mm l a fiaii'eaux,

Patented Aug. 29, 1939 UNITED s'm'ras PATENT OFFICE.

2,171,417 coma-ran TRANSFER AND CLEARING MEOHANI Eugene M. La Boiteaux, Washington, D. 0. Application pmmbei-a, 1935, Serial No. 52,604 11 Claims. (Cl. ass-i=3) The invention relates to machines for mechanically adding simultaneouslyamounts comprising a plurality of digits in which the method of carrying or transferring the increment from a lower to the next higher denomination is usually accomplished by a successive or step-by-step method immediately following the accumulative interval and forming a part of a complete cycle as determined by controlling devices. In coun- 3 ters or registers of large field capacity, this interval is necessarilyshort and, where speed may be demanded, results are liable to error. The method herein presented accomplishes this result in a more direct manner by'merging the 5 carrying or transferring of the increments from lower denominations to higher denominations within or practically simultaneously with the accumulative interval with a consequent reduction in the number of working parts.

30 A further object of the invention is to provide a transfer unit for carrying or transferring the increment from a lower to the next higher denomination of an extremely simple and comg pact character adapted to be mounted directly 25 on the continuously rotating shaft between frictionally driven escapement time counter wheels and capable of automatic operation during the accumulative interval as the necessity for increment transfer from any of the number wheels to 30 a number wheel of the next higher denomina-. tion occurs, thereby entirely eliminating the heretofore successive or step-by-step transfer .interval occurring immediatelyfollowi'ng the accumulative interval, whereby greater accuracy in 35 the operation of the counter transfer mechanism and increased speed of the same and the indexing or other machine with which such counter transfer mechanism may be associated are obtained.

4 As a method for clearing or zero alignment of this type of counter is one of considerable importance, it is also anobject of the invention to enable this operation to'beaccomplished in a; simple, effective and accurate manner and by 45 the use of a minimum number of parts.

Withthese and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter'fully described, illustrated in the accom- 50 panying drawings and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the to details ofconstruction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

, proportions and minor In the drawings: 1

Figure 1 is a front elevation of counter transfer and clearing mechanism constructed inaccordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view on the line 5 22 of Figure 1 showing the counter transfer and the clearing mechanism in side elevation.

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevation of a type or number wheel and transfer unit partly in section, the carry arm being also shown.

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the counter transfer mechanism.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a sectional view of the type'or num- .ber wheel illustrating the arrangement of the floating driving dog and the spring for urging the driving dog tangentially. and radially.

Figure 7 is a similar view illustrating the arrangement of the friction drive of the type or number wheel.

Figure 8 is a detail side elevation illustrating the construction of the clearing mechanism.

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional viewof the ratchet disk of the transfer unit.

Figure 10 is an elevationof the ratchet disk showingone side of the same.

Figure 11 is a similar view showing the other side of the ratchet disk of the transfer unit.

Figure 12 is a detail sectional view illustrating a the toothed sleeve of the transfer unit.

Figure 18 is a detail side elevation of the toothed sleeve.

Figure 14 is a detail sectional view of the number or type wheel.

Figure 15 is a detail view of one of the fiber disks of the friction drive.

Figure 16 is a similar view of one of the metal disks of the friction drive.

In the accompanying drawings in which is illustrated one embodiment of the invention, l designates a frictional driven number or type wheel consisting of a disk having a central opening 2 and arranged on a continuously rotating shaft I and frictionally driven by the'said shaft by means of interleaved friction disks 4 and 5 alternately arranged as clearly illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings and keyed respectively to the number or type wheel I and the continuously rotating shaft 3. The friction disk assembly is of the ordinary wellknown construction, the friction disk 4 being designed to be constructed of fiber or othersuitable material and the friction disk b of metal. The fiber disks are preferably provided at the periphery with projecting lugs 6 arranged preferably 120 apart and engaging keyways 1 formed in the wall of a recess 8 of the number or type wheel In The frictiondisks 5 are each provided with 2. lug 9 which engages a keyway In of the continuously rotating splined shaft 3. The friction disks 4 and 5 which have central openings 'II and I2 for the passage of the shaft 3 are maintained in frictional engagement by a coiled conical spring I3 which is compressed into a flat coil as clearly illustrated in Figures 4 and 7 of the drawings and which maintains the friction disks in contact with one another so that when the number wheel is free" to rotate, it will be rotated by the' continuously rotating shaft 3.

The friction drive also permits the type or number wheel to be restrained and normally held against rotary movement by a locking pawl Ill which is arranged to engage outer ratchetteeth I5 of a ratchet ring It. The ratchet ring I6, which constitutes anescapement wheel for the number or type wheel instead of forming an integralpart of the type or number wheel, as heretofore, is in thelform of a ring free to rotate in one direction and mounted on an annular boss I? extending from the side of the numberor type wheel opposite that at which the friction disks are arranged and retained thereon by a plate I8 consisting of a ring secured to the outer face of the annular boss I'I by suitable fastening devices I 9.

The ratchet ring is provided at its inner pelriphery with shallow internal teeth 20 corresponding with the external teeth I 5 and arranged to be engaged by a floating driving dog-2i which causes the ratchet ring to rotate with the number or type wheel. The floating driving dog, which consists of a curved body portion, operates within a recess 22 in the annular boss of the number or type wheel, and it is mounted on a fixed stud 2i3-carried by said type or number'wheel and extending through a slightly enlarged approximately elliptical opening 2 3 in the floating driving dog N. The enlarged opening 24 permits pivotal movement of the dog and also a limited longitu dinal movement of the same. w

The floating driving dog 2i is provided at one end withan outwardly or radially projecting tooth 25 which engages an internal tooth or the ratchet ring I6, and it is provided at its other end with a substantially arcuate arm 28 located within the recess defined by the annular boss I77 and projecting beyond one end of the recess 22. The arm 26 is normally arranged approximately concenin a direction substantially tangentially or circumferentially with relation to the ratchet ring and radially by a curved approximately circular spring 27 suitably secured at one end 28 to the number or type wheel and connectedat its other end 29 with the body portion of the floatingdriving dog at the rear end thereof. The spring 27, which may have its end 29 seated in a socket 36 0f the floating driving dog, may beotherwise connected therewith, and it is adapted to maintain the tooth 25 in engagement with the ratchet ring and it is also capable, when the arm 26 is actuated by transfer mechanism hereinafter described and the tooth 25 withdrawn from engagement with the ratchet wheel, of moving the floating driving dog tangentially a sufiicient distance to carry the tooth 25 a short distance beyond the previously engaged internal tooth 2b of the ratchet ring Iii, The operation insures the rofloating driving dog engages the next internal tooth 20, provided the number wheel is restrained by the locking pawl I 4 at the time the floating driving dog is operated by the said transfer mechanism Should, however, the driving dog be operated while the number or type wheel is rotating and therefore unrestrained by the locking pawl I4, the floating driving dog will be ,carried to a point beyond the previously engaging internal ratchet tooth 20 and after the completion of the said rotary movement of the number or type wheel due to a control card of an indexing machine having withdrawn the locking pawl I 4 from engagement with the ratchet ring, the floating drive dog will permit the number or type wheel to rotate one division or the distance of one tooth inexcess of that effected by the control card after the locking pawl It has reengaged and restrained the ratchet ring. When the locking pawl I l has reengaged the ratchet ring I 6 the friction drive will continue 'the rotation of the number or type wheel to which the floating dog 2i is pivoted until the floating dog 2i engages the next internal tooth or shoulder 20 of the ratchet ring I6. This obviates a second operation of the locking pawl Id which has heretofore been necessary to accomplish this result.

The transfer unit comprises a toothed central sleeve 3i arranged on the-continuously rotating shaft and provided with a key lug 32 which fits in the keyway Id of the shaft 3, whereby the sleeve is fixed to and rotates with the shaft 3.- The central sleeve 3I is provided at its periphery with approximately triangular teeth 33 having oppositely inclined faces and forming tapering recesses 36 which receive an annular series ofv opening 38, and it is ar-' ranged in flush relation with the same. The retaining plate is pressed on the toothed sleeve and secured in place by staking the end of the sleeve but any other suitable means may be employed for securing the retaining plate on the toothed sleeve. p

The annular boss .36 is provided with radial openings M which are cylindrical to permit radial movement of the balls 35. The halls are directed radially by an endless helical spring 46 arranged in the form of a ring and encircling the annular series of radially movable balls and located adjacent the arm 26 of the floating driving dog 2|, whereby when the ratchet disk which normally rotates with the toothed sleeve is restrained by the carry arm 53, the balls 35 will be moved radially outwardly by the inclined facesof the teeth 33 of the sleeve 3I and will expand the endless helically coiled spring #36 and cause the same to engage the arm 26 of thetfloatingdriving dog 2I and withdraw the tooth 25 thereof from engagement with an internal tqoth of the ratchet ring to permit the number or, type wheel to rotate one division, transferring an increment from one number wheel to another number wheel of the next higher denomination. The balls 35constitute radially movable elements, and the radially movable elements may be varied, and instead of employing balls, radially movable elements of any other form may be employed. Also, instead of employing a continuously coiled helical spring, any equivalent resilient means may be provided for directing the balls radially and for expanding circumferentially to operate the floating driving dog.

The splined shaft is common to all the number or type wheels I, and each type or number wheel is provided at the side opposite that having the bars I! with a cam disk 41 secured to the number or type wheel by suitable fastening devices 48 and retaining the friction drive assembly within the recess 8 of the number or type wheel. The cam disk is located at one side of the number or type wheel I, and the plate or ring I. is located at the opposite side thereof, and separate fastening devices are illustrated in the drawings for securing these parts in place, but they may be secured to the type or number wheel I in any I other suitable manner. Also a carry arm 43 is associated with each number wheel and is maintained normally in engagement with the periphery of the cam disk by a spring 49. The carry arms 43 are mounted on a fixed shaft 50 for independent movement and each rides on the periphery of the cam disk and .is provided with a laterally extending tooth 5! arranged to engage the ratchet disk 31 for momentarily restraining the ratchet disk against rotation for causing a circumferential expansion of the annular resilient member 46 to actuate the floating driving dog and withdraw its tooth 25from engagement with an internal tooth 20 of the ratchet ring IS. The cam disk 41 is provided in its periphery with a recess 52 adapted to permit the carry armto drop into it and allow the tooth 5| to engage the ratchet disk 31. The number or type wheel I and its cam disk 41 rotate in the direction of the arrow in Figure 2 of the drawings, and the recess 52 is provided at its rear end with an inclined or beveled wall 53 which is adapted, through the rotary movement of the cam disk 41, to lift the carry aim 43 out of engagement with the ratchet disk After th carry arm 43 has been liftedout of engagement with the ratchet disk 31, it is retained by the periphery of the cam disk 41 out of engagement with the ratchet disk 31 until the number wheel has again made a complete rotation and-the recess 52 is again brought into position to permit the carry arm to drop into engagement with the ratchet disk 31. It will thus be seen that the transfer mechanism will be automatically operated once during each rotation of the number or type wheel for the transfer of an increment to the number wheel of the next higher denomination. Each carry arm is provided with a lugor projection 54 arranged at an angle to the carry arm and the'spring 49 is connected at one end to the lug or projection 54 and at its other end to a fixed portion on the frame for maintaining the carry arm in engagement with the cam disk of the number or type wheel. A laterally projecting tooth 5| of the carry arm is arranged to coact with the transfer mechanism of the adjacent number or type wheel, so that when the. carry arm of one number or type wheel is operated by the cam disk of such type wheel, the ratchet disk of the number ortype wheel of the next higher denomination will be momentarily arrested to effeet the automatic transfer of an increment from a a number or type wheel of the next lower denomination to the number or type of the next higher denomination. 'Ihe arresting of the ratchet disk 31 by the tooth SI of the carry arm 43 will cause an expansion of the helically coiled spring 46 and withdraw the tooth 25 of the driv-,

ing dog 2| from engagement with an internal tooth 20 of the ratchet ring to permit the number or type wheel to rotate one division and transfer the locking pawl Hi, the number or type wheel will immediately rotate one division or register an increment of one. Should, however, this same number or type wheel be rotating or in the act of accumulating an increment as determined and controlled by any indexing device by cessation of interference of said locking pawl it, the floating driving dog 2|, although rotating with the number or type wheel and with the ratchet ring 46, will be disengaged from the internai toothlfi of the ratchet ring at the carry position of the number wheel of the next lower denomination and when said locking pawl H2 again arrests the rotation of the ratchet ring 16, said number or type wheel will continue its rotation an additional one division and thus accumulate the increment, one, transferred from said number or type wheel of the next lower denomination as heretofore explained.

The number or type wheels 1! are provided at their peripheries with raised type or numbers 55, ranging from nought tonine in the ordinary manner and adapted to have an impression taken from the result by any suitable printing means. The recesses or cutaway portions 52 of the cam disks are associated with the ciphers or noughts of the printing type or numbers so that the inmay be arranged at any convenient point around the periphery of the type or number wheels.

Clearing or zero alignments at the completion of integrating operations is accomplished by means of resilient detents 55 adapted to engage the carry arms 43 and maintain the same in the recesses orcutaway portions 52 of the cam disks for holding the type or number wheels against rotation until a zero'alignment of the type or number wheels is effected. The resilient detents 56 are secured to and extend downwardly beyond depending arms 51 of a cam control rock shaft 59 as clearly illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings. The detent 56 is normally slightly separated from and out of engagement with a shoulder 60 of the carry arm 43 by control through a onerotation cam 6|. The cam also actuates a sliding collar 62 by means of an angle shifting lever 63 having a forked arm 64 and a cam actuated arm 65. The forked arm 64 i provided with pins or studs 56 having antifriction sleeves i1 and extending into 'a peripheral cam groove 68 of the one-rotation cam 6|. The cam 6| when tripped makes one complete rotation and then stops at the starting position. The rotation of a one-rotation cam is determined by the driving mechanism and its cessation after the cam has made one revolution. As this is well known in the arts, further illustration or explanation thereof is believed unnecessary. The angle shifting lever 63 is fulcrumed by a suitable pivot 69 on a fixed portion of the frame 10 of the machine, and the cam groove 68 of the cam 6| has a laterally extending cam portion 12 which normally maintains the sliding collar 62 out of engagement with a laterally projecting beveled portion 13 of the floating driving dog 2 I of the units denomination type or number wheel. The beveled laterally extending portion 13 is engaged by abeveled peripheral portion 14 of the sliding collar for operating the floating driving dog 2| of the units denomination type or number wheel.

The rock shaft 59 is provided with a cam controlled arm 15 located at one side of the cam BI and provided with a laterally projecting stud 16 having an antifriction sleeve 11 operating in a cam groove 18 formed in the inner side face of the cam 6i and having an inwardly directed oifset or cam portion 19 which normallymaintains the resilient detents 56 out of engagement with the carry arms. The clearing or resetting to zero of all type wheels is effected by a single rotation of the cam'fil which may be operated by any suitable means either manually or automatically. The rotation of the cam '6l from the position illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings moves the cam controlled arm 15 of the rock shaft 59 outwardly and carries the resilient detents into engagement with the carry arms and is adapted to hold the carry arms in the recesses 52 of the cam disks against the action of the friction drive of the number or type wheels by engagement with the rise or beveled end wall 53 of the said recess 52.

The carry arms are each provided adjacent the shoulders '60 with a recess adapted to be encaged by the coacting detent 56 for maintaining the carry arm in engagement with the said recess 52 of the cam disk 41. If the carry arm 43 actuated by the spring 49 should be riding on the periphery of the cam disk 41, the resilient detent 56 will be flexed by contact with the shoulder 60 and, upon further rotation of the cam disk 41,

the carry arm will move downwardly into the cam area or recess 52 of said cam disk 41, thereby permitting the resilient detent to assume a verticalposition above and in engagement with the recess 80-, thereby preventing further rotation of the type or number wheel by engaging or contacting with the beveled wall or rise 53 of the cam disk 41. ing of the detent 56, by the rotation of the cam St, the deflector collar 62 is shifted longitudinally of the shaft by the cam 12 to release the floating driving dog from the engaged internal tooth of the ratchet ring of the units denomination of the type or number wheel, thus permitting free rotation of said type or number wheel to" same direction will in practice be connected by a Immediately preceding the flcx-' suitable gearing with the tabulating or other machine with which the counter transfer and gearing mechanism is used and it will rotate in synchronism with such machine. The stoppawls H which constitute latches for normally restraining or holding the counter members or units I against rotation with the continuously rotating shaft 3 are adapted to be operated by any suitable indexing or tabulating mechanism for individually releasing the counter members I for simultaneously adding a plurality of digits.

-As tabulating or indexing mechanism for recording or accumulating and recording the results of numbers represented by perforations in record cards commonly used in connection with systems of mechanical tabulation, is well known in the art illustration of such means for operating the stop pawls or latches M for releasing the counter members I individually for timed intervals, is deemed unnecessary. A preferred mechanism for accomplishing this result is disclosed and claimed in an application filed by .me August 7, 1935, Serial No. 35,217, but any other equivalent mechanism may of course be employed.

What is claimed is 1. In mechanism of the class described, a co with the counter member, a driving dog mounted "on the counter member and normally engaging the escapement wheel for causing the escapement wheel to rotate with the counter member, means for engaging the escapement wheel for normally holding the counter member against rotation with the shaft, and means actuated by the counter member of the next lower order at the completion of a cycle of its movement for operating the driving dog to release the counter member and permit a certain rotative movement thereof while the said holding means is engaged with the escapement wheel for transferring an increment to the counter member from a counter member of the next lower denomination.

2. In mechanism of the class described, a .continuous rotating shaft, a counter member carried by the shaft, an escapement wheel associated with the counter member and mounted for relative rotative movement, a driving dog mounted the'escapement wheel for causing the escapement wheel to rotate with the counter member, a latch for engaging the escapement wheel for normally holding the counter member against rotation with the shaft and mechanism actuated by the counter member of the next lower order at the completion of acycle of its movement for operating the driv-. ing dog to release the counter member and permit a certain rotative movement thereof while the latch is in engagement with the escapement wheel for transferring an increment to the coun ter member from a counter member of the next lower denomination.

3. In mechanism of the class described, a continuous rotary shaft, a counter member carried by the shaft, an escapement wheel associated with the counter member and having internal .and external teeth, a driving dog mounted on the counter member and arranged ,to engage the internal teeth of the escapement wheel for causing the same to rotate with the counter member. means for engaging the external teeth of the escapement wheel for normally holding the counter member against rotation with the shaft, and

mechanism actuated by the counter member of the next lower order at the cgmpletion of a cycle 75 of its movement for operating the driving dog to release the counter memberand permit a certain rotative movement thereof for transferring an increment to the counter member from a counter member of the next lower denomination 4. In mechanism of the class described, a continuous rotary shaft, a counter member carried by the shaft, a ratchet'ring associated with the counter member and provided with internal teeth,

a driving dog connected with the counter member and arranged to engage the internal teeth of the ratchet ring for causing the ratchet ring to rotate with the counter member, and mechanism actuated by the counter member of the next lower order upon completion of its cycle of movement and including radially movable means for operating the'driving dog to release the counter member to permit a rotating movement thereof.

5. In mechanism of the class described, a continuous rotary shaft, a counter member carried by the shaft, a ratchet ring associated with the counter member and provided with internal teeth, a floating driving dog connected with the counter member and engaging the internal teeth of the ratchet ring for causing the latter to 1'0- tate with the counter member, said driving dog being movable radially and substantially tangentially with relation to the ratchet ring, mechanism including radially movable means actuated by the counter member'of the next lower order upon completion of its cycle of movement for operating the driving dog to release the counter member to permit a rotative movement thereof, and resilient means for actuating the driving dog in its radial and tangential movements whereby a positive release of the counter member is effected for said rotating movement.

6. In mechanism of the class described, a continuous rotary shaft, a counter member carried by the shaft, a ratchet ring associated with the counter member and having internal teeth, a driving dog mounted on the counter member and arranged to engage the internal teeth for causing the ratchet ring to rotate with the counter member, and mechanism actuated by the counter member of the next lower order upon completion of its cycle of movement and including a sleeve rotating with the shaft and provided with teeth, radially movable elements normally located between the teeth of the sleeve and adapted to be moved outwardly by rotary movement of the sleeve, means for guiding the radially movable elements in their radial movement, and resilient means actuated by said elements radially for operating the driving dog to release the counter member and permit a rotating movement of the same.

'7, In mechanism of the class described, a continuous rotary shaft, a counter member carried by the shaft, a ratchet ring associated with the counter member and having internal teeth, a driving dog mounted on the counter member and arranged to engage the internal teeth for causing the ratchet ring to rotate with the counter member, and mechanism actuated by the counter member of the next lower order upon completion of its cycle of movement and in-- cluding a toothed sleeve rotating with the shaft, a ratchet disk normally rotating with the toothed sleeve, radially movable elements guided bythe ratchet disk, resilient means maintaining the said elements in engagement withv the toothed sleeve for causing the ratchet disk to rotate,

normally with the sleeve and means for 110151-- ing the ratchet disk against rotation for causing the toothed sleeve to move the said elements outwardly and cause the resilient means to operate the driving dog and release the counter member for a, rotating movement with the shaft for transferring an increment to the counter member from a counter member of the next lower denomination.

8. In mechanism of the classdescribed, a continuous rotary shaft, a counter member carried by the shaft, a ratchet ring associated with the counter member and having internal teeth, a driving dog connected with the counter member and arranged to engage the internal teeth for causing the ratchet ring to rotate with the counter member, and mechanism actuated by the counter member of the next lower order upon completion of its cycle of movement and including a sleeve rotating with the shaft, a ratchet disk adjacent the said sleeve, resilient radially movable means carried by the ratchet disk and coacting with the said sleeve for causing the ratchet disk to rotate normally with the sleeve, the latter being provided with means for actuating the radially expansible means to operate the driving dog and release the counter memher when the ratchet disk is held against rotary movement, and an arm provided with means for engaging and holding the ratchet disk against rotation.

9. In mechanism of the class described a continuous rotary shaft, a counter member carried by the shaft, a ratchet ring associated with the counter member and having internal teeth, a driving dog mounted on the 'counter member and arranged to engage the internal teeth for causing the ratchet ring to rotate with the counter member, and mechanism actuated by the counter member of the next lower order upon completion of a cycle of its movement and including a transfer unit mounted on the shaft and provided with a ratchet disk normally rotating with the shaft, said transfer unit having means associated with the ratchet disk for operating the driving dog to release the counter member and permit a rotating movement when the ratchet disk is arrested, an arm arranged to engage the ratchet disk and a cam normally main-' taining the arm out of engagement with the ratchet disk and provided with means for, releasing the arm to enable the same to engage the ratchet disk when a counter member has completed a rotative movement.

10. In mechanism of the class described, a continuous rotary shaft, a counter member carried upon the shaft, an escapement wheel associated with the counter member, a driving dog connected with the counter member and normally engaging the escapement wheel for causing the escapement wheel to rotate with the counter member and adapted to be moved out of such engagement to permit independent rotary movement of the counter member by said shaft, means for engaging the escapement wheel for normally holding the counter member against rotation with the shaft, and zero positioning mechanism including means for operating the drivingdog to release the counter member and for holding the dog out of engagement with the escapement wheel until the counter member has reached a zero position.

11. In mechanism of the class described, a continuous rotary shaft, 9. counter member carried by the shaft, a ratchet ring associated with i the counter member and having internal teeth,

a floating driving dog connected with the counter member and arranged to engage the internal teeth, of the ratchet ring for causing the ratchet ring to rotate with the counter member, a transfer unit mounted on and normally rotating with the shaft and provided with a ratchet disk and having means for operating the driving dog to release the counter member and permitrotating movement thereof when the ratchet disk is arrested, a carry arm arranged to engage the ratchet disk, a cam for maintaining the carry arm out of engagement with the ratchet disk until a counter member of the next lower order has completed a cycle of rotating movement, and means for maintaining the carry arm in engagement with the ratchet disk to permit rotation of the counter member until the same has reaohe a zero position.

12. In mechanism of the class described, a continuous rotary shaft, a counter member carried by the shaft, a ratchet ring associated with the counter member, a floating driving dog connected with the counter member and engaging the ratchet ring for causing the same to rotate with the counter member, a transfer mechanism" mounted on the shaft and including a ratchet disk mounted on and normally rotating with the shaft, means controlled by the ratchet disk and operated by the same to actuate the driving dog and release the counter member when the ratchet disk is arrested, a cam controlled carry arm arranged to engage the ratchet disk when a counter member of the next lower order has completed a cycle of rotating movement; and means for maintaining the carry arm in engagement with "the ratchet disk to permit rotation of the counter inember until the same has reached a zero posiion. 13. In mechanism of the class described, a continuous rotary-shaft, a counter member carried by the shaft, a ratchet ring associated with the counter member, a floating driving dog connected with the counter member and engaging.- the ratchet ring for causing the same to rotate with the counter member, a transfer mechanism including a ratchet disk mounted on and normally rotating with the shaft, means controlled by the ratchet disk and operated by the same to actuate the driving dog and release the counter member when the ratchet disk is arrested, a cam controlled carry arm arranged to engage the ratchet disk when a counter member of the next lower denomination has completed a cycle of rotating movement, and zero positioning mechanism provided with means for maintaining the carry arm in engagement withthe ratchet disk to permit 'rotation of the counter member until the same has reached a zero position.

14. In mechanism of the class described, a continuous rotary shaft, a counter member carried by the shaft, a ratchet ring associated with the counter member, a floating dog connected with the countermember and arranged to engage the ratchetring for causing the ratchet ringto rotate with the counter member, a transfer mechanism including a ratchet disk mounted on and normally rotating with theshaft, means controlled 'by the ratchet disk for operating the driving dog to release the counter member-when the ratchet disk is arrested, a cam controlled carry arm arranged to engage the ratchet disk when a counter member of the next lower order has completed a cycle of rotating movement, a rock shaft provided with a resilient detent arranged to engage the carry arm for maintaining the same in engagement with the ratchet disk until the counter member has reached a zero position, and a cam for-controlling the operation of the rock shaft.

15. In mechanism of the class described, a continuous rotary shaft, two counter members of successive orders carried by the shaft, means carried by the shaft for rotating the counter membars when the same are free to rotate, means norof the higher denomination for causing rotation thereof by said shaft without operating the latch and while the latch is in its holding position;

16. In mechanism of the class described, a continuous rotary shaft, two counter members of successive orders carried by the shaft, means carried by the shaft for rotating the counter members when the same are free to rotate, means normally holding the counter members against rotation with the shaft including a latch for each counter member, said latches being adapted to be operated to release the counter member to per-- mit rotation thereof by said shaft, and means interposed between the counter members and member of the lower denomination to operate at least the digit carrying portion of the counter.

member of the higher denomination to cause the same to be rotated by the shaft a certain degree. substantially immediately upon such operation and independently of'the releasing of the latch and while the latch is in its normal holding position.

17. In mechanism of the class described, a

- continuous rotary shaft, two counter members of successive orders carried by the shaft, means carried by the shaft for rotating the counter members when the same are free to rotate, means normally holding the counter members against rotation with the shaft including a latch for each counter member, said latches being adapted to be operated to release the counter members to permit rotation thereof by said shaft, and-mechanism associated with the counter members and actuated .by the counter member of the lower denomination upon the counter member of the lower denomination'making-a complete rotation for simultaneously causing operation of at least the digit carrying portion of the counter member of the higher denomination for causing rotation thereof a predetermined degree and thereby transfer an increment to the counter member of the higher denomination simultaneously and continuously with the adding of a plurality of digits.

EUGENE M. LA BOI'I'EAUX.

' adapted upon a complete rotation of the counter 1 

